Female preference for symmetry in computer-animated three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus
Female preference for symmetry in computer-animated three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus
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DOI：
10.1007/s00265-003-0609-0
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发表时间：
2003-07-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Bakker, TCM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mazzi, D;Künzler, R;Bakker, TCM
波动性不对称是指个体无法缓冲遗传和环境压力的破坏性影响而导致的双侧性状相对于完美对称的微妙随机偏离。第二性征的不对称程度被认为传达了关于男性的表型和/或遗传质量的信息，因此女性可能会使用双侧对称作为择偶的线索。我们独立和同时操纵的长度和相对对称性的骨盆棘的计算机动画三棘鱼，Gasterosteus aculeatus。在所有的配偶选择测试涉及两个男性模型不同的脊柱对称性，女性更喜欢的对称模型，无论脊柱长度，虽然只有显着，当两个男性模型都有短的脊柱。女性没有显着区分男性模型不同的脊柱长度。女性的身体状况越好，对对称性的偏好就越强。我们的研究表明，女性刺鱼掌握所需的感知能力，以区分潜在的配偶之间的配对结构之间的小长度差异完全根据，并提供了实验证据，脊柱对称性是受性选择，通过女性的选择在这个物种。
Fluctuating asymmetries are subtle random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilateral traits caused by the inability of individuals to buffer their development against the disruptive effects of genetic and environmental stresses. The degree of asymmetry of secondary sexual characters is supposed to convey information about a male's phenotypic and/or genetic quality, and females may thus be expected to use bilateral symmetry as a cue in mate choice. We independently and simultaneously manipulated the length and the relative symmetry of the pelvic spines of computer-animated three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. In all mate choice tests involving two male models differing in spine symmetry, females preferred the symmetric model, irrespective of spine length, though only significantly so when both male models had short spines. Females did not significantly discriminate between male models differing in spine length alone. The preference for symmetry was stronger the higher the females' physical condition. Our study demonstrates that female sticklebacks master the perceptual abilities required to discriminate between potential mates basing exclusively on small length differences between paired structures, and provides experimental evidence that spine symmetry is subject to sexual selection through female choice in this species.